The UP Resilience Institute

The UP Resilience Institute was established as a proactive hub of benchmark innovative information vital to the nation's efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Its mission is to empower local communities through multidisciplinary actions toward resilience.

As a response through its Memorandum No. PAEP-16-67, the University of the Philippines Board of Regents (BOR) approved on 28 July 2016 the establishment of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UP RI) to have the following functions and programs concerning multi-hazard, multidisciplinary, multisectoral, comprehensive disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM):

Research and Creative Work: undertake policy research, action research and interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary research or creative workKnowledge Sharing:disseminate research findings, creative works and innovationsEducation:establish non-degree educational programs and support degree programs within the UP SystemInstitute Building: improve the capability of the UP System as an agent of change for disaster resilience in the Philippines and the Pacific Rim region.

Special Provision in the 2018 General Appropriations Act:

The UP NOAH Center

The UP NOAH Center is the core component of the UP Resilience Institute. It was formally adopted by the University of the Philippines during the Board of Regents 1325th meeting on February 23, 2017 as a research center for climate actions and disaster risk reduction and management. An Executive Order signed by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, (EO PLDC 17-03), established the NOAH Center as a research institute in the UP System.

The vital role of UP NOAH’s work is producing freely accessible, accurate, reliable, and relevant scientific disaster data. It also highlights a multidisciplinary approach in assessing risk and using the lens of different scientific areas. This ensures that Filipinos are provided an integrative appraisal of the natural hazards that put them in danger.

"UP NOAH Center's benefits go far beyond its research value. It has literally been a lifesaver for millions of Filipinos threatened by natural disasters like floods, landslides, and storm surges. It deserves a new lease on life, and UP is happy to welcome it into its fold."- UP President Danilo L. Concepcion

Since June 2000, the U.P. School of Urban and Regional Planning has been offering the graduate Diploma, Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) programs following the ladder structure. Courses taken in the lower degree (e.g. Diploma) are credited in the next higher degree (e.g. M.A.).SURP also offers the Master of Science in Regional Development Planning (MScRDP) as a joint offering of UP-SURP and the Technical University of Dortmund (TUDo) in Germany. This two-year program is aimed at regional and district development planning, with emphasis on rural areas. The first year of the program is spent at TUDo and the succeeding year at the UP-SURP.

The School actively engages in research, either independently or in cooperation with government and private institutions.

The School is very active in training and extension work, maintaining a working relationship with several government inter-agency planning committees. Much of its training and extension work helps improve the quality of planning at the national and local government levels.